Aketemo Kuretemo

I regularly crave Jiro-style and Jiro-inspired ramen… After a long time, I found myself thinking, “I really want some Jiro-style ramen…” so I headed to a shop called “Aketemo Kuretemo” in Senbon-Nakatachiuri, Kyoto. You might not be familiar with this name, but this shop originally split off from “Ramen-so Yume wo Katare” in Ichijoji and operated under the name “Yume wo Katare Kyoto.” However, there seems to be a rule that shops can only operate under the “Yume Wo Katare” name for the first three years after opening, and this shop was no exception—it reopened under a new name in April of 2025. So, what was this rare Jiro-inspired ramen shop in western Kyoto like?…

Of all the Jiro-inspired ramen shops I’ve visited in the past, the service here is by far the most courteous… This is exactly the kind of place “Aketemo Kuretemo” is.

I visited “Aketemo Kuretemo” around 11:30 a.m. on a weekday. Since it was a weekday, there was no line outside at that time, and I was able to walk right in without any wait. The interior is quite compact, with seating limited to just eight seats at an L-shaped counter. Unlike the typical “Jiro-inspired” vibe, which often has a slightly grungy feel, the layout here is minimalist and simple. However, the lighting seemed intentionally subdued, so it was a bit dim even in the middle of the day.

It might have just been a fluke when I visited, but a single young staff member was running the entire shop by themselves. But this staff member’s customer service was incredibly polite. It wasn’t the boisterous vibe you find at other shops; instead, it was a more reserved approach—in a way, quite unlike what you’d expect from a Jiro-inspired spot. If everyone were treated like this, I bet there wouldn’t be a single person left in the world who thinks Jiro-style ramen shop is “scary.” I think this is the perfect place for someone who says, “I’m interested in Jiro-style or Jiro-inspired ramen, but I’m too scared to try it,” to take their first step…

The ramen here is generally on the milder side… So, how did the pork ramen at “Aketemo Kuremo” actually turn out when I tried it?

Now, let me introduce the pork ramen (300g of noodles, 1,400 yen including tax) that I ordered at Aketemo Kuretemo that day. After waiting about 10 minutes from the time I placed my order, the pork ramen was brought to my table—and here’s what it looked like…

As usual, I asked for “extra garlic and vegetables.” At first glance, the amount of back fat looked a bit generous, but in terms of overall volume, it was about average compared to other Jiro-style or Jiro-inspired ramen.

So, where should I start with this ramen…? After thinking about it for a moment, I decided to tackle the chashu topping first. It was over 1 cm thick, with plenty of fat, and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It lacked the “brutal” impression typical of Jiro-style ramen, striking a balance between a meaty richness and ease of eating.

Next, I pulled the noodles out from the broth, revealing these extra-thick noodles with a slight curl. They were cooked al dente, delivering that satisfying chewy texture just as I’d hoped. By the way, there was a sign on the wall that read “Teigaku Noodles”—could these noodles possibly be made by Menya Teigaku? Among Jiro-style and Jiro-inspired shops, some use homemade noodles, while others source them from renowned noodle manufacturers… With each shop expressing its own unique dedication to quality, it’s become an increasingly fascinating era…

And finally, the broth. It’s a non-emulsified type like this, with both the sharpness of the soy sauce and the pork flavor leaning slightly toward the mild side. I’ve always had the strong impression that Jiro-style (including Jiro-inspired) ramen typically uses soy sauce with a sharp, salty edge, but the soy sauce used here seems to have a slight sweetness to it. In that sense, I think it’s a somewhat unusual type of broth.

So, I polished off the Aketemo Kuretemo pork ramen (300g of noodles) in about 10 minutes. Contrary to the typical image of Jiro-style ramen, both the shop’s atmosphere and the ramen itself have a gentle feel to them, so I think this is a place I can especially recommend to Jiro-style beginners. If I had to point out a downside, it would be that the shop’s location is a bit inconvenient. That said, even with the less-than-ideal location, there’s always a line—especially at night…

Examples of Other Menu Items at Aketemo Kuretemo (Prices Include Tax)

• Without Pork Soup (300g of Noodles) 1,400 yen
• Pork Ramen (300g of Noodles) 1,400 yen
• Dry Ramen (300g of Noodles) 1,100 yen
• Ramen (300g of Noodles) 1,100 yen
• Cheese: 100 yen
• Spicy: 100 yen
• Raw Egg: 50 yen

Note: For 150g or 200g portions, 100 yen off the prices listed above

Takeout was surprisingly popular… To get to “Aketemo Kuretemo,” take the Kyoto City Bus Route 201 (bound for Senbon Imadegawa, Karasuma Imadegawa, or Hyakumanben) from Nijo Station on the JR Sagano Line, get off at the Senbon Izumi bus stop, and walk 5 minutes.

Aketemo Kuretemo also offers takeout, and it seemed like takeout business was pretty brisk during lunchtime. I’d say it was about half and half between dine-in and takeout customers… Maybe there’s something unique to that area that’s driving the high volume of takeout orders. In any case, it’s really great to be able to enjoy ramen as takeout. If you’re new to Jiro-style ramen and still feeling a bit unsure, why not give it a try with takeout first?Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you’re looking for delicious ramen in Kyoto, be sure to check out this article as well…